Page:The Guardian (Vol 1).pdf/365

 N° 47.

THE GUARDIAN.

271

fion toward her ; and reſolved with himſelf, if not

to make her happy, at leaſt to ſet her at eafe, by placing her in a nunnery at his own expenſe. But, upon further deliberation, he found himſelf very much inclined to lay before her an alterna tive, which in all likelihood ſhe never expected. One day, therefore, when ſhe was left alone with

him, as uſual, he opened his intentions to her (as it is ſaid ) much after the following manner. I am, mademoiſelle,' ſays he, not a little moved 6

with your misfortunes, and the great fufferings you have undergone. I am likewiſe very ſenſible

of the uneaſy circumſtances under which you labour at preſent; and I have now for ſome days been contriving with myſelf how to extricate you out of all your difficulties. At laſt I have fallen

upon two ways of doing what I ſo much delire ; I leave you to determine according to your in clinations, in the choice of the one or the other : or, if neither of them pleaſe you, to refuſe them

both. My fortunes are too narrow to enable me to make yours anſwerable to your merit ; all that I

am capable of doing is, either to make you ajoint

partaker with myſelf of the little I have, or to place you, at my own expenſe, in

any convent

h it were in my power you ſhall chooſe. I wiſ Conſult yo your u own inclina

to do more for you.

tions, and do what you think will be moſt agree

able to yourſelf. As for my perſon, I do not pretend to recommend it to you ; I know I make but an ungainly figure ; but I am not able to

ſelf to you aſſuſuch asyoI .new-mould it ; 'I offer myfe re u m I do am ; and yet, ſuch as you e e , that I would not beſtow myſelf upon another;